The time is now. Rep. Henry's Hyde's protégé has cleared the Republican primary field for 2006 and the Republican interests in Washington are willing to do whatever it takes to retain his seat. They've lined up Peter Roskam, a former Tom Delay staffer and Grover Norquist ally to fill Hyde's shoes. I'm Christine Cegelis and in 2004 I held Hyde to a career-low vote total. Now I'm challenging his protégé. I am asking you to stand beside me and join me in this fight. We can win this seat, we must win this seat, and we will!
I'm asking you to vote for me in Democracy for America's Take Back the House: Grassroots All-Star Competition. (http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/)I would not have received 44% of the vote against conservative icon Henry Hyde in 2004 without the grassroots support from members of Democracy for America, both locally and nationally. From walking precincts, stuffing envelopes, writing letters, hosting fundraisers, writing blog entries, and drafting position papers, the enthusiasm and hard work of local members continues to fuel my campaign.
Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean included me as a Dean Dozen candidate in 2004 because of my strong grassroots support. Already this cycle, three local DFA groups have endorsed my candidacy for 2006 and others have held fundraisers and canvassed precincts. Local supporters in Oak Park, Wilmette, Rockford and Naperville have run, and won, local office. The movement to get citizen candidates elected across this country continues to grow. Democracy for America is playing a strong role in that growth. Now they have launched the Take Back the House: Grassroots All-Star Competition to determine which congressional candidate will receive their first DFA-List endorsement of 2006. In recognition of the central role that grassroots citizens have played in my campaigns, I'm asking people for their vote..
The DFA endorsement would do more than recognize the people who are helping me reclaim this district. It would also help me beat Hyde's heir-apparent. We can't afford another extreme conservative in Congress. We need representatives in Congress that represent our interests- not the failed Republican policies that have divided our country and put special interests above our own. We don't need more Bush and Delay cronies running our federal agencies or passing laws that neglect the needs of hard-working Americans. That's why I'm running for Congress.
As a citizen candidate, I know the financial constraints and challenges that many Americans confront while they raise their children, support their parents, and struggle in an unpredictable economy. I believe that we have a chance to make a real difference in this country by working together to promote our socially progressive, fiscally responsible views. I believe that all Americans deserve a quality education, affordable healthcare, renewable energy sources, and effective foreign policy. Like you, I am trying to make a difference because I could no longer sit back and watch the Republicans dismantle the American dream. Like you, I decided it was time for change. That's why I'm running for Congress and I need your help to succeed.
Please visit http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/ to help me win Democracy for America's endorsement. If you want to learn about my campaign for Congress you can visit my website and blog at www.cegelisforcongress.com. You can also sign up for email updates to keep up to date on the campaign and to find out how you can be involved. I look forward to working with you to bring real, lasting, and positive change to this country as the next Congressional Representative for the Sixth District in Illinois.